Advising SCI Victims with Dedication and Compassion

The level of the injury is utilized to predict which body parts may bear effects of paralysis and function loss. Cervical, or neck injuries, often result in quadriplegia. If the injury is above C-4 level it may require a ventilator for the victim to breath. C-5 injuries typically mean there will be control of shoulder and biceps but not wrist or hand. C-6 injuries often lead to wrist control but no functionality in the hand itself. Survivors with C-7 and T-1 are able to straighten their arms but have dexterity problems with their hands and fingers. 

An injury that occurs at the thoracic level and below will result in paraplegia, where the hands are not affected. At T-1 to T-8 there is often control of hands, but as a result of lack of abdominal muscle control there is poor trunk control. Lower T-injuries, T-9 to T-12 often allow good trunk control and abdominal muscle control. Balance for sitting remains good. If a patient has Lumbar or Sacral injuries this will yield decreased control of hip flexors and legs. 

There can be more than effects on motor functioning. SCI patients may experience dysfunction of bowel and bladder movements. Sexual functionality can also be affected, for men this affects fertility. Very high injures such as C-1 and C-2 can lead to the loss of involuntary bodily functions, such as breathing. This causes the need for breathing aids in daily life, such as ventilators or diaphragmatic pacemakers. There can be additional effects to blood pressure, body temperature and the ability to sweat below the level of injury. And of course there can always be chronic pain.

Unfortunately only a small fraction of people with SCIs recover all of their functioning. Even with extensive research and many advances there is currently no cure for SCI. There have been discoveries that decreased the extent of damage at the start of the injury that is promising.